Fischer’s, 50 Marylebone High Street, London W1U 5HN

Fischer’s, 50 Marylebone High Street, London W1U 5HN
01/06/2014
www.fischers.co.uk

She said: Over the years, I’ve watched a series of restaurant incarnations on this spot. My favourite was of course Eat and Two Veg, the superb vegetarian diner now long gone. Three restaurants on and he discovered the latest optimist: Fischer’s was having a soft launch and so booked us a table at the 50% promotional price! Having got excited over previous openings on this site, I was deliberately calm about this new establishment, even with its credentials of being part of that group which lists the Wolseley, Delaunay and Brasserie Zedel in its family. First impressions were good: an elegant, art deco dining space inspired by the Viennese grand cafes with green banquettes, dark furnishings and smoked glass. The restaurant seems split in two halves with the rear having a more atmospheric, opulent feel and the front, well less so. We were seated at the front but at a lovely table away from the hustle. The menu was good with lots of fish and meat (but no vegetarian main dishes). I started with a kasespatzle which is a sort of macaroni cheese, completely delicious and great value. I followed this with a seared sea bass which was a good portion and again very tasty. The side of picked cucumber I ordered complimented this perfectly. As we were about to order dessert we were asked to move tables which he thought was not a big deal but I thought was poor. The table we were moved to was against some sort of station for the waiting staff and next to the main bar and entrance way, so noisy, distracting and a complete change of mood. I proceeded with an order or cherry strudel which was delicious. When we asked for the bill, we were told the meal was on the house because of having to move home in the middle which was a very kind concession…Although ‘karma’ or whatever evened the score when I got home and spent the evening dealing with severe food poisoning. More shockingly, for the first time I can ever remember, he was also poisoned! Maybe the cucumber pickle did it? When he reported it the next day to the manager they did show due concern and attempt to investigate but alas, without ‘samples’ the restaurant findings were inconclusive. So where does this leave me? Well, without the poisoning, this is a great, upmarket local good for a coffee and cake break or the full dining experience. But there are many great places in London where a happy meal has not meant an unhappy stomach so I’m not sure if I’m a gambler…

He said: The last time I got stomach flu was ten years ago in India, after accepting a blessing in some far flung temple which involved drinking from some holy goblet. The second the water touched my lips I knew I was screwed. But even then it wasn’t dodgy food what did me in and, as you can see from the many posts below, there has been no shortage of eating lots of things in lots of different places. Even after nursing She through her countless bouts of Montezuma’s revenge, my trusty stomach has remained stoically and resolutely uncorrupted. Like some badass, cast-iron gutted Florence Nightingale coaching She in her world record 100m dashes to hug the porcelain.  So I will say nothing about Fischer’s other than I’m disappointed. After years of Daily Mail reading well-wishers telling me not to eat boiled bat soup in Guinea, or monkey brain soufflé in Indonesia… To be struck down by some fancy pants place on my own High Street. What a bummer…